FSU football: 15 greatest NFL careers ever by former Seminoles
By Joey Loose
FSU football greatest NFL career No.14: Brad Johnson
A number of prominent quarterbacks have played for the Seminoles but Brad Johnson is a name that stands out for his success and longevity. He actually wasn’t a major piece at Florida State, with just 14 passing touchdowns for the Seminoles between 1988 and 1991, but it was enough to get him onto the national radar.
Johnson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 9th round of the 1992 NFL Draft and was not a factor early in his career. He did not play his first two seasons in the league and played minimally after that. Four seasons into his NFL career, Johnson had zero career starts, but hope was not lost.
Johnson started 23 games over the next three seasons for the Vikings in the late ’80s, winning 13 of those starts with 44 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. Johnson got his chance to be a full-time starter with Washington in 1999 and was voted to his first Pro Bowl that season.
His most prolific success came at Tampa Bay, where Johnson was quarterback from 2001 to 2004. In that second season, he made his second Pro Bowl and helped lead the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. He’d throw a career-high 26 touchdowns the following season before leaving Tampa two years later.
Johnson’s career continued all the way to 2008, starting a few games for the injured Tony Romo with the Dallas Cowboys. There weren’t opportunities early in his career, but he’d start 125 games at quarterback and win a Super Bowl in a 17-year pro career. You won’t be blown away by his career stats compared to today’s quarterbacks, but Johnson was certainly a player.